Portland school board votes to double pre-kindergarten program over 5 years

 

The Portland school board has approved a multimillion dollar plan doubling the district’s pre-K program to about 260 students over the next five years through a mix of on-site and off-site locations. ...

“This is a giant leap in the right direction,” board member Anna Trevorrow said. “It will be the most ambitious step we’ve taken on pre-K in a decade.” ...

Universal pre-K helps all students, research shows, but it particularly benefits low-income children who may not have the same benefits of middle- and upper-income children, such as language-rich environments, adequate food and medical care, and experience socializing with groups of peers. In Maine, one-third of children under 6 are in low-income households.

The Portland program will serve students that reflect the district’s demographics, with about 55 percent of students from low-income households. ...